Senior Supplier Quality & Industrialization Lead

Rivian Automotive; Plymouth (MI); On-site; USD 114,000 - 143,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

401(k) plan and Employee StockPurchase

Job summary

Rivian Automotive, Plymouth, MI, is seeking a Lead Supplier Development, Industrialization & Quality Engineer to own the cradle-to-grave supplier quality lifecycle and drive risk mitigation for high-risk suppliers.

You will lead complex APQP/PPAP projects, align with cross-functional leadership, and influence program decisions while traveling 50-75% domestically. This role reports to the Sr. Manager - Supplier Development, Industrialization & Quality.

Qualifications

• Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related technical field and a minimum of 6 years of relevant supplier development experience.
• Domain Expertise: Full understanding of the procurement end-to-end lifecycle and experience managing high-risk supplier portfolios.
• Commodity-Specific Experience: Experience in Cold/Hot stamping, sheet-metal forming, fixture-based assembly, MIG welding, robotic welding, manual welding, e-coat interfaces, and final assembly processes.
• Evaluate fixture datum strategies, clamping, weld-gun access, poka-yoke, dimensional capability, and repeatability.
• Drive controls for weld defects, dimensional variation, distortion, missing welds, spatter, undercut, porosity, burn-through, and rework.
• Technical Skills: Primary owner of the business case and execution for significant process improvement initiatives.
• Communication: Interpreter of information who can facilitate productive conversations and gain buy-in for a clear vision.
• Execution: Expert analysis and recommendations directly influence critical sourcing decisions and capital investments.
• Operational Style: Operates as a leader with minimal manager input, holding accountability for the performance of suppliers/cross-functional teams; navigates high-pressure situations.
• Travel Requirements: Regular primarily domestic travel is a core part of this role, expected to average between 50-75%.

Responsibilities

• Supplier Management: Own the complete "Cradle to Grave" supplier quality lifecycle to ensure seamless production ramps. Manage critical CL0 and CL1 suppliers, resolving failures to mitigate risks or delays.
• Problem-Solving and Risk Mitigation: Lead the breaking down of complex problems and datasets to derive meaningful, actionable results. Apply standard, robust problem-solving tools to address systemic issues across the supply base.
• Technical Skills: Lead high-complexity APQP/PPAP projects impacting major program milestones. Optimize supplier quality KPIs to predict and prevent future failures, aligning project efforts with long-term goals.
• Organizational Influence & Outreach: Act as a key advisor to program leadership, presenting and defending strategic recommendations in high-stakes forums. Drive systemic cross-functional change using first principles to persuade other functions to adopt new processes.
• Direction: Operate as a leader with minimal manager input, holding accountability for the performance of suppliers and cross-functional teams. Act instinctively to manage and prioritize complex workloads in high-pressure situations.
• Travel Requirements: Regular domestic travel is a core part of this role, averaging between 50-75%.

Skills

Supplier development leadership

Problem solving

APQP/PPAP knowledge

Cross-functional collaboration

Executive-level communication

Travel availability 50-75%

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related technical field

6+ years supplier development experience

Job description

Rivian Automotive, Plymouth, MI, is seeking a Lead Supplier Development, Industrialization & Quality Engineer to own the cradle-to-grave supplier quality lifecycle and drive risk mitigation for high-risk suppliers.

You will lead complex APQP/PPAP projects, align with cross-functional leadership, and influence program decisions while traveling 50-75% domestically. This role reports to the Sr. Manager - Supplier Development, Industrialization & Quality.